Marianne Gopalkrishna

ARTIST BIOGRAPHY

Marianne grew up in Germany where she went to High school and afterwards studied science. She worked for two years in Microbiology for the pharmaceutical company Shering. After coming to Canada she worked in Virology and chemistry for the Medical College and School of Pharmacy. Afterwards she went back to university and studied Fine Arts at the University of Manitoba. She graduated in 1988 with a BFA Hon. Degree.

From that time she has been working as free lance artist. Her work includes painting, glass, pottery, ceramics, monoprinting and batik. She has had solo shows In Vancouver. Toronto, Winnipeg, Brandon, and Portage. She has taken part in over 80 group shows all over Canada, USA. and England.

Besides her degrees in science and fine arts she has taken many courses in different fields: Art History in Italy, Archeology in Cyprus, Batik in India and Indonesia, glass fusing, photography, monoprinting, raku and languages.

In addition to doing her own art she has worked as curator, juror, guide and an art teacher. She has given conducted workshops at the U of MB., Wag Art groups, community centres but mainly in schools K – grade 12 through the Man. Arts Council, “Artists in School program.”

Her biggest interest in life is travelling. She has lived in and visited most of Europe Asia America and parts of Africa. Many of her painted ceramic plates tell stories of her experiences and memories of different countries.

ARTIST STATEMENT

The majority of my artwork, paintings and ceramics are pictorial narratives. Often they tell stories of my personal impressions of different cultures. My intention is to achieve an understanding between people of different backgrounds.

I concentrate on positive imagery, not only to make the viewers happy, but rather to make them understand the importance of having a healthy environment and to help preserve its plants and animals.

Most of my scenes are of rural activities before the introduction of modern agricultural machinery. My basic theme is to show that land based societies are very similar all over the world with the only differences appearing in climate, flora ad fauna.

For me my art is an escape from everyday life to a time and place when man and animal lived in harmony together. I also hope it brings some happiness to the people who view my work.